{"id":1124,"date":"2026-06-03T21:03:58","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T21:03:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imagined.my\/?p=1124"},"modified":"2026-07-21T21:22:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T13:22:17","slug":"ketipang-payung-in-the-congo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imagined.my\/?p=1124","title":{"rendered":"Ketipang Payung in the Congo"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research by Muhammad Suhail<\/strong> \u2502 Editing by Loong Dien Min<\/strong> \u2502 Design by Dennis Ong<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lyrics to Ketipang Payung<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
Ala payunglah payung ketipang payung   
Payung sutera nak raja muda 
Ala tolonglah tolong cik abang tolong 
Janganlah marah pada adinda

Daun mengkudu bercabanglah cabang 
Tempat temasya semut kerengga 
Tidakkah rindu (oi kepadalah abang) 
Menunggu masa hai serumah tangga

Daunlah nipah ditebanglah tebang
Batanglah padi aku lurutkan
Kalaulah sudah (oi kepunyaan abang)
Ke laut api kanda turutkan<\/em>
<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
An umbrella, oh the pristine umbrella\nA silk umbrella desiring a prince \nPlease my darling, I merely ask\nDo not be furious with me\n\nBranches of Indian mulberry leaves\nThe place where ants thrive\nDo you not, my dearest one, long for me?\nThe wait for marriage only deprives\n\nGather palm leaves and plenty more\nHarvest the ripe padi till one tires\nOh, if I am already yours\nI will stay with you even into seas of fire\n\n(translation by Suhail)<\/em>\n\nIn 1959, Shaw Studio\u2019s Malay Film Productions released Nujum Pa\u2019 Belalang, (Pa\u2019 Belalang the Astrologer). This film was one of many released by the production company in collaboration with the multi-talented seniman (artiste), P. Ramlee, defining the \u2018golden era\u2019 of Malay films.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
This well-known Malay folk tale tells of the crafty Pa\u2019 Belalang and his son, Belalang, who, through wit, trickery, and a series of lucky coincidences, cheated their way from poverty to riches<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Like many films of that era, Nujum Pa\u2019 Belalang<\/em> engaged many socio-political themes which were in the minds of Malayans, like modernity, self-determination, and identity. But keeping with the genre of Malay cinema of that time, a film cannot be complete without songs! Ketipang Payung <\/em>was one song that was featured in Nujum Pa\u2019 Belalang<\/em>, composed by P. Ramlee, sung by Rahmah Rahmat, and arranged by S. Sudarmaji. With his own vocals, Ramlee had recorded another rendition of the song with his wife, Saloma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Arranger S. Sudarmaji<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Rahmah Rahmat<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Album of Ketipang Payung recorded by P.Ramlee with his wife, Saloma.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Songs like Ketipang Payung<\/em> get popularised through films, but they were in themselves a particularly special medium for nation-making. Through film music, composers like Ramlee and Zubir Said explored the many values of a society in transition. Their songs were aired over the radio and their records were also widely sold. Listening to Malay film music came to be a shared experience for many Malayans across all races.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n
Malay film music had a cosmopolitan aesthetic. Lyrically, it adapted forms of traditional Malay poetry like the ghazal, hikayat, and pantun, while taking on novel arrangements inspired by jazz or samba. Modern instruments, such as the saxophone and electric guitar, expressed its melodies.
This particular screenshot was taken from Ibu Mertuaku (1962), as saxophonist Yusof B. played the song ‘Jeritan Batin’, composed by P.Ramlee.\u200b
Source: MUBI Malaysia on X<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n